The Correlation Between Glaucoma and

Diabetes

Tommy
03010268

Medical faculty of Trisakti University

Jakarta

Saturday,April 16 2011

Chapter I Introduction
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently impacting vision
in the affected eye(s) and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always,
associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye (aqueous humour).

The nerve damage involves loss of retinal ganglion cells in a characteristic pattern. There are many
different sub-types of glaucoma but they can all be considered a type of optic neuropathy.
Raised intraocular pressure is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma (above 21 mmHg or
2.8 kPa). One person may develop nerve damage at a relatively low pressure, while another person
may have high eye pressure for years and yet never develop damage. Untreated glaucoma leads to
permanent damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss, which can progress to blindness.

Glaucoma can be divided roughly into two main categories, "open angle" and "closed angle"
glaucoma. Closed angle glaucoma can appear suddenly and is often painful; visual loss can progress
quickly but the discomfort often leads patients to seek medical attention before permanent damage
occurs. Open angle, chronic glaucoma tends to progress at a slower rate and the patient may not notice
that they have lost vision until the disease has progressed significantly.

Glaucoma has been nicknamed the "silent thief of sight" because the loss of vision normally occurs
gradually over a long period of time and is often only recognized when the disease is quite advanced.
Once lost, this damaged visual field cannot be recovered. Worldwide, it is the second leading cause of
blindness. It is also the leading cause of blindness among African Americans. Glaucoma affects 1 in
200 people aged fifty and younger, and 1 in 10 over the age of eighty. If the condition is detected early
enough it is possible to arrest the development or slow the progression with medical and surgical
means.

The word glaucoma comes from the Greek , "opacity of the crystalline lens".

Chapter II Glaucoma
There are two main types of glaucoma: open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma.
Open-angle glaucoma accounts for 90% of glaucoma cases in the United States. It is painless and does
not have acute attacks. The only signs are gradually progressive visual field loss, and optic nerve
changes (increased cup-to-disc ratio on fundoscopic examination).
Closed-angle glaucoma accounts for less than 10% of glaucoma cases in the United States, but as
much as half of glaucoma cases in other nations (particularly Asian countries). About 10% of patients
with closed angles present with acute angle closure crises characterized by sudden ocular pain, seeing
halos around lights, red eye, very high intraocular pressure (>30 mmHg), nausea and vomiting,
sudden decreased vision, and a fixed, mid-dilated pupil. Acute angle closure is an ocular emergency.

Epidemiology
Glaucoma is second to cataract as a leading cause of global blindness and is the leading cause of
irreversible visual loss. In 2002, 37 million individuals were blind worldwide, with glaucoma
accounting for 12.3% of these individuals. By the year 2020 it is estimated that there will be almost
80 million people in the world with open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. The majority
of these individuals will have open-angle glaucoma. Of those with ACG, it is predicted that 70% will
be women and 87% will be Asian. Bilateral blindness from glaucoma is projected to affect 8.4 million
individuals worldwide by 2010 and greater than 11 million by 2020. Globally, glaucoma is a
significant cause of vision loss that disproportionately affects women and Asians. Risk factors for
open-angle glaucoma include increased age, African ethnicity, family history, increased intraocular
pressure, myopia, and decreased corneal thickness. Risk factors for angle closure glaucoma include
Inuit and Asian ethnicity, hyperopia, female sex, shallow anterior chamber, short axial length, small
corneal diameter, steep corneal curvature, shallow limbal chamber depth, and thick, relatively
anteriorly positioned lens.

Patophysiology
The major risk factor for most glaucomas and focus of treatment is increased intraocular
pressure. Intraocular pressure is a function of production of liquid aqueous humor by the ciliary
processes of the eye and its drainage through the trabecular meshwork. Aqueous humor flows from
the ciliary processes into the posterior chamber, bounded posteriorly by the lens and the zonules of
Zinn and anteriorly by the iris. It then flows through the pupil of the iris into theanterior chamber,
bounded posteriorly by the iris and anteriorly by the cornea. From here the trabecular meshwork

drains aqueous humor via Schlemm's canal into scleral plexuses and general blood circulation. In
open angle glaucoma there is reduced flow through the trabecular meshwork; in angle closure
glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle is completely closed because of forward displacement of the final
roll and root of the iris against the cornea resulting in the inability of the aqueous fluid to flow from
the posterior to the anterior chamber and then out of the trebecular network.

The inconsistent relationship of glaucomatous optic neuropathy with ocular hypertension has
provoked hypotheses and studies on anatomic structure, eye development, nerve compression trauma,
optic nerve blood flow, excitatory neurotransmitter, trophic factor, retinal ganglion cell/axon
degeneration, glial support cell, immune, and aging mechanisms of neuron loss.

Classification
Primary glaucoma (the most common form, a structure involved in the circulation and / or
reabsorption of aqueous humor pathological changes immediately / not yet known cause)

1. Glaucoma primary open angle glaucoma is more insidious and is most prevalent (90% of patients
with glaucoma). Glaucoma occurs frequently due to degeneration. This form occurs in people who
have a corner room (between the iris and cornea) is open to normal, but has a resistance at the
AQUOS humor outflow, such as trabekuler, sclehm canal, or the veins AQUOS. This situation
occurred due to the age of people who have elderly (> 40 years) that cause sclerosis in trabekuler
network. Because AQUOS humor that came out less than the entrance, the IOP in the eye
increases. This form is usually bilateral and can progress to complete blindness in the absence of
acute attacks.

2. Closed angle glaucoma is a disorder due to anatomical defect that causes silting that causes
narrowing of the anterior camera angles and the drainage of the peripheral iris trabekuler.

3. Acute closed angle glaucoma is a medical crisis that is rare enough that can lead to significant
vision loss. The basic mechanism that occurs in glaucoma is the narrowing of the angle and location
of the iris that changes too in the future. Change location causes the cornea to close the corner of the
room, which will hinder AQUOS humor in trabekuler. TIO is increasing rapidly, with the pressure
reaches 50-70 mmHg. Things like this should be quick order not extend to damage the optic
nerve. Typical sign is pain, arising , nausea, vomiting.

Secondary glaucoma (glaucoma caused by other eye diseases that cause the narrowing angle or
increase the volume of fluid in the eye / unknown cause)
1. Open angle glaucoma, which is a symptom caused by increased IOP prisoners humor to flow
AQUOS trabekuler, schlemm canal, and venous episkleral. Trabekuler pores can be blocked by a type
of debris, blood, pus, or other materials. This increase may be caused by the use of steroids ,
intraocular tumors, uveitis due to herpes simplex or zoster, or blockage of trabeculae network.
2. Closed glaucoma, namely increased IOP caused by blockage nets trabeculae by the peripheral
iris. This condition is usually caused by changes in flow AQUOS humor after suffering from illness or
surgery.

Causes and risk factors

There are several causes for glaucoma. Those at risk are advised to have a dilated eye examination at
least once a year.
Ocular hypertension (increased pressure within the eye) is the largest risk factor in most glaucomas,
but in some populations only 50% of patients with primary open angle glaucoma actually have
elevated ocular pressure.
Those of African descent are three times more likely to develop primary open angle glaucoma.
Elderly people have thinner corneal thickness and often suffer from hypermetropia. They are also at
higher risk for primary open angle glaucoma.
People with a family history of glaucoma have about six percent chance of developing glaucoma.
Many East Asian groups are prone to developing angle closure glaucoma due to their shallower
anterior chamber depth, with the majority of cases of glaucoma in this population consisting of some
form of angle closure. Inuit also have a twenty to forty times higher risk than Caucasians of
developing primary angle closure glaucoma. Women are three times more likely than men to develop
acute angle-closure glaucoma due to their shallower anterior chambers.
Other factors can cause glaucoma, known as "secondary glaucomas," including prolonged use of
steroids (steroid-induced glaucoma); conditions that severely restrict blood flow to the eye, such as
severe diabetic retinopathy and central retinal vein occlusion (neovascular glaucoma); ocular trauma
(angle recession glaucoma); and uveitis (uveitic glaucoma).

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) has been found to be associated with mutations in genes at
several loci. Normal tension glaucoma, which comprises one third of POAG, is associated with
genetic mutations.
There is increasing evidence that ocular blood flow is involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
Current data indicate that fluctuations in blood flow are more harmful in glaucomatous optic
neuropathy than steady reductions. Unstable blood pressure and dips are linked to optic nerve head
damage and correlate with visual field deterioration.
A number of studies also suggest a possible correlation between hypertension and the development of
glaucoma. In normal tension glaucoma, nocturnal hypotension may play a significant role.
There is no clear evidence that vitamin deficiencies cause glaucoma in humans. It follows then that
oral vitamin supplementation is not a recommended treatment for glaucoma.
Various rare congenital/genetic eye malformations are associated with glaucoma. Occasionally, failure
of the normal third trimester gestational atrophy of the hyaloid canal and the tunica vasculosa lentis is
associated with other anomalies. Angle closure induced ocular hypertension and glaucomatous optic
neuropathy may also occur with these anomalies and modelled in mice.
Diagnosis
Screening for glaucoma is usually performed as part of a standard eye examination performed
by ophthalmologists, orthoptists and optometrists. Testing for glaucoma should include measurements
of the intraocular pressure via tonometry, changes in size or shape of the eye, anterior chamber angle
examination or gonioscopy, and examination of the optic nerve to look for any visible damage to it, or
change in the cup-to-disc ratio and also rim appearance and vascular change. A formal visual field
test should be performed. The retinal nerve fiber layer can be assessed with imaging techniques such
as optical coherence tomography (OCT), scanning laser polarimetry (GDx), and/or scanning laser
ophthalmoscopy also known as Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT3). Owing to the sensitivity of
all methods of tonometry to corneal thickness, methods such as Goldmann tonometry should be
augmented with pachymetry to measure central corneal thickness (CCT). A thicker-than-average
cornea can result in a pressure reading higher than the 'true' pressure, whereas a thinner-than-average
cornea can produce a pressure reading lower than the 'true' pressure. Because pressure measurement
error can be caused by more than just CCT (i.e., corneal hydration, elastic properties, etc.), it is
impossible to 'adjust' pressure measurements based only on CCT measurements. TheFrequency
Doubling Illusion can also be used to detect glaucoma with the use of a Frequency Doubling
Technology (FDT) perimeter. Examination for glaucoma also could be assessed with more attention
given to sex, race, history of drug use, refraction, inheritance and family history.

Medication
Intraocular pressure can be lowered with medication, usually eye drops. There are several different
classes of medications to treat glaucoma with several different medications in each class.
Each of these medicines may have local and systemic side effects. Adherence to medication protocol
can be confusing and expensive; if side effects occur, the patient must be willing either to tolerate
these, or to communicate with the treating physician to improve the drug regimen. Initially, glaucoma
drops may reasonably be started in either one or in both eyes.
Poor compliance with medications and follow-up visits is a major reason for vision loss in glaucoma
patients. A 2003 study of patients in an HMO found that half failed to fill their prescription the first
time and one in four failed to refill their prescriptions a second time. Patient education and
communication must be ongoing to sustain successful treatment plans for this lifelong disease with no
early symptoms.
The possible neuroprotective effects of various topical and systemic medications are also being
investigated.

Prostaglandin

analogs like latanoprost (Xalatan), bimatoprost (Lumigan)

and travoprost (Travatan) increase uveoscleral outflow of aqueous humor. Bimatoprost also
increases trabecular outflow

Topical beta-adrenergic

receptor

antagonists such

as timolol, levobunolol (Betagan),

and betaxolol decrease aqueous humor production by the ciliary body.

Alpha2-adrenergic agonists such as brimonidine (Alphagan) and apraclonidine work by a dual

mechanism, decreasing aqueous humor production and increasing trabecular outflow.

Less-selective sympathomimetics such as epinephrine decrease aqueous humor production

through vasoconstriction of ciliary body blood vessels.

Miotic agents (parasympathomimetics) like pilocarpine work by contraction of the ciliary

muscle, tightening the trabecular meshwork and allowing increased outflow of the aqueous
humour.Ecothiopate is used in chronic glaucoma.

Carbonic
inhibitors like dorzolamide (Trusopt), brinzolamide (Azopt), acetazolamide (Diamox)
secretion of aqueous humor by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase in the ciliary body.

Physostigmine is also used to treat glaucoma and delayed gastric emptying.

anhydrase
lower

Both laser surgeries and conventional surgeries are performed to treat glaucoma.Surgery is the
primary therapy for those with congenital glaucoma. Generally, these operations are a temporary
solution, as there is not yet a cure for glaucoma. The most common conventional surgery performed
for glaucoma is the trabeculectomy. Here, a partial thickness flap is made in the scleral wall of the
eye, and a window opening made under the flap to remove a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The
scleral flap is then sutured loosely back in place. This allows fluid to flow out of the eye through this
opening, resulting in lowered intraocular pressure and the formation of a bleb or fluid bubble on the
surface of the eye. Scarring can occur around or over the flap opening, causing it to become less
effective or lose effectiveness altogether.

Chapter III Diabetes

Diabetes is a complex disease resulting from the inability of the body to produce insulin, a hormone
that takes sugar out of the blood and into cells where it can be used for energy. Without enough
insulin, there is too much sugar in your blood. Its like having a car full of gas but no key; you have
the fuel you need, but cant start using it.

Chapter IV Correlation Between Glaucoma and Diabetes

A common complication of diabetes is diabetic eye disease. Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of
sight-threatening eye problems that people with diabetes may develop.

Glaucoma is one of these diseases. Diabetic eye disease also includes diabetic retinopathy and
cataracts. Diabetic retinopathy, a disease which damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina (the lightsensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye) is the most common diabetic eye disease. During their
lifetime, nearly half of the nations estimated 16 million people with diabetes will develop some
degree of diabetic retinopathy, and as many as 25,000 people go blind annually.
A cataract is a clouding of the eyes lens that results in blurring of normal vision. People with diabetes
are nearly twice as likely to develop cataracts as other adults. Cataracts also tend to develop at an
earlier age.

Chapter V Conclusion
The relationship between diabetes and open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma),
has intrigued researchers for years. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma as
are non-diabetics, although some current research is beginning to call this into question. Similarly, the
likelihood of someone with open-angle glaucoma developing diabetes is higher than that of a person
without the eye disease.
Neovascular glaucoma, a rare type of glaucoma, is always associated with other abnormalities,
diabetes being the most common. In some cases of diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels on the retina
are damaged. The retina manufactures new, abnormal blood vessels.
Neovascular glaucoma can occur if these new blood vessels grow on the iris (the colored part of the
eye), closing off the fluid flow in the eye and raising the eye pressure. Neovascular glaucoma is a
difficult disease to treat. One option is laser surgery to reduce abnormal blood vessels on the iris and
on the retinal surface. Recent studies have also shown some success with the use of drainage implants.

Resources
1.

Diabetes

and

Your

Eyesight.[update

2011].

Available

http://www.glaucoma.org/glaucoma/diabetes-and-your-eyesight.php.
Accessed on April 14 ,2011.
2. http://www.totalkesehatananda.com/glaucoma3.html

at:

3. http://www.wikipedia.org
4. Smeltzer, S.O. and Bare, B.G. 2002. Brunner & Suddart Keperawatan Medikal Bedah volume 3.
Jakarta : Penerbit Buku Kedokteran